A side-by-side comparison of First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX® Fund (FDT) and Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares (VYMI) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | FDT | VYMI |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -4.76% | +0.58%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -0.44%✓ | -1.30% |
| 1-Week Change | -0.97%✓ | -2.31% |
| 1-Month Change | -2.12%✓ | -5.12% |
| Current Price | $93.28 | $99.82 |
| AUM | $1.37B | $21.71B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.8% | 0.07%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 2.71% | 3.43%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2011-04-18 | 2016-02-25 |
| Holdings Count | 49 | 1512 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Category | Foreign Large Value | Foreign Large Value |
| Beta | 1.12 | 0.71 |
| 52-Week High | $99.93 | $106.45 |
| 52-Week Low | $71.23 | $79.72 |
| 50-Day MA | $94.33 | $104.16 |
| 200-Day MA | $91.77 | $98.55 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | FDT | VYMI |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -4.76% | +0.58%✓ |
| 1 Year | +32.02%✓ | +28.37% |
| 3 Year | +27.69%✓ | +23.30% |
| 5 Year | +12.53% | +14.13%✓ |
| 10 Year | +9.93% | +10.72%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 23.29% | 12.18% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.26 | 1.62 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | 009150 | Samsung Electro-Mechanics | 1.63% |
| 2 | 402340 | SK Square Co Ltd | 1.05% |
| 3 | 1888 | Kingboard Laminates Holdings Ltd | 0.98% |
| 4 | 000660 | SK Hynix Inc | 0.97% |
| 5 | 9984 | Softbank Group Corp. | 0.88% |
| 6 | 011070 | LG Innotek Co Ltd | 0.87% |
| 7 | MOH | Motor Oil (Hellas) Corinth Refineries S.A | 0.87% |
| 8 | 6448 | Brother Industries Ltd | 0.82% |
| 9 | 0148 | Kingboard Holdings Ltd | 0.80% |
| 10 | 000150 | Doosan Corp. | 0.77% |
| 1 | HSBA | HSBC Holdings PLC | 1.89% |
| 2 | ROP | Roche Holding AG | 1.59% |
| 3 | RY | Royal Bank of Canada | 1.51% |
| 4 | NOVN | Novartis AG | 1.51% |
| 5 | NESN | Nestle S.A. | 1.33% |
| 6 | SHEL | Shell plc | 1.33% |
| 7 | 8306 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 1.26% |
| 8 | BHP | BHP Group Ltd | 1.11% |
| 9 | CBA | Commonwealth Bank of Australia | 1.08% |
| 10 | SAN | Banco Santander S.A. | 1.06% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | FDT | VYMI |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 9.21% | 6.75% |
| Communication Services | 2.73% | 3.71% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 10.76% | 6.21% |
| Consumer Defensive | 2.60% | 6.52% |
| Energy | 9.16% | 8.80% |
| Financial Services | 11.05% | 44.05% |
| Healthcare | 1.34% | 6.43% |
| Industrials | 32.98% | 6.36% |
| Real Estate | 4.53% | 1.08% |
| Technology | 10.73% | 5.05% |
| Utilities | 4.91% | 5.04% |
About FDT
The fund will normally invest at least 90% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in the securities that comprise the index. The index is designed to select stocks from the NASDAQ Developed Markets Ex-US Index that may generate positive alpha, or risk-adjusted returns, relative to traditional indices through the use of the AlphaDEX® selection methodology.
About VYMI
Under normal circumstances,the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets,plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes,in the stocks that make up the target index.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both FDT and VYMI are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, VYMI scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between FDT and VYMI?
FDT (First Trust Developed Markets Ex-US AlphaDEX® Fund) and VYMI (Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF Shares) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($1.37B vs $21.71B), dividend yield (2.71% vs 3.43%), and year-to-date performance (-4.76% vs +0.58%).
Is FDT better than VYMI?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy FDT and VYMI on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both FDT and VYMI should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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